The Greatest Love Story Ever Sung

"La Bohème is the story of the doomed love affair between the consumptive Mimi, a seamstress, and Rodolfo, a writer. The original production, inspired by an autobiographical novel written by Henri Murger in the 1840's, was set in Bohemian Paris in the 1830's. Luhrmann's Broadway version, which is based on the acclaimed, sold-out production he mounted in 1990 for The Australian Opera in his native Sydney, takes place in Bohemian Paris in 1957."

The above description is taken from the opening night edition of 'Playbill' for the 2003 Broadway production of La Bohème. This programme includes director's notes, which were written by Baz Luhrmann and provide detailed information about La Bohème's journey to Broadway.